Time flies, doesn't it? That seems especially true when it comes to Xbox Live Gold subscriptions -- before you know it, Microsoft is nagging you that it's nigh time renew that 12-month subscription you purchased last year, leaving you to wonder where the time went. Inevitably, you end up picking up another 12-month card, so if Microsoft offered a 24-month subscription at a discount, would you bite?

Microsoft is determined to find out. Gamers in the U.K. can already head over to GAME and purchase a downloadable 24-month Xbox Live Gold membership for £59.99 (around $100 in U.S. currency). A 12-month subscription typically sells for £39.99 (~$67), so there's a bit of a discount in buying two full years upfront.

Will the U.S. market see the same subscription option? We heard rumors Microsoft would it would, and sure enough, Amazon is now offering a 24-month code for $100. In comparison, a 12-month subscription sells for just shy of $60, so that translates into a $20 savings if you go the 24-month route. These are retail costs, mind you.

If you're a fan of deal sites, it's not unusual to find a 12-month Xbox Live Gold card selling for between $35 and $40, such as the one Walmart is currently offering (it also comes bundled with a co-branded NFL stadium bag and coupon for $10 off NFLShop.com). Picking up a pair of those is still the better deal, though it's probably only a matter of time before discounted 24-month cards hit the deal scene as well.